Military Coup in Gabon Seen as Part of Broader Revolt Against France & Neo-Colonialism in Africa

Military leaders in Gabon seized power on Wednesday shortly after reigning President Ali Bongo had been named the winner of last week's contested election. Bongo and his family have led the country for close to 60 years, during which they have been accused of enriching themselves at the expense of the country. The military junta announced General Brice Oligui Nguema would serve as transitional leader in what is the latest military coup in a former French colony, joining recent power shifts in Niger, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Chad. "The independence of Gabon has never been real," says Thomas Deltombe, French journalist and expert on the French African empire. "I think we might be witnessing a second independence, a new decolonization process." We also speak with Daniel Mengara, a professor of French and Francophone studies and founder of the exiled opposition movement Bongo Must Leave, which he continues to head. "This is a rare opportunity for the Gabonese people to engage in national dialogue," says Mengara, who warns that the intentions of the coup leaders are still unclear.

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